PEACE IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

It is rather the same reality which is manifested in different things and different beings in this world. According to this principle, a man and his fellow men are one and the same. There is no difference between one and the other. This concept produces a sense of fellow-feeling for all living beings. It negates the principle of otherness. Indeed, the feeling of otherness simply disappears. This being so, committing violence or aggression against others is, in principle, like committing aggression against one’s own self. It is this concept which is the ideological source of peace in Hinduism. The British historian Arnold Toynbee has called this a ‘live and let live’ concept of peace. That is, we should give peace to others and in exchange receive peace from them. In the 20th century too, there is the great example of Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu reformer of world repute, who interpreted the Bhagwad Gita in the light of the principle of non-violence, and launched a fullfledged freedom movement entirely committed to this principle. The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1984) explains the degree to which Mahatma Gandhi was a pacifist: “Gandhi was the first to interpret ahimsa positively and in the sense of a social obligation.” (13/ 847) Tolerance is one of the basic principles of Hinduism. This concept of tolerance goes to the ultimate extent of encouraging belief in the truth of all religions. According to the Gita, each religious path leads towards the same destination: the truth. When Swami Vivekananda said, ‘Every religion is true,’ he correctly echoed Hindu belief. In Hinduism each religious tradition can be given equal recognition. Under the heading of ‘Hinduism’, the Encyclopaedia Britannica aptly states: In principle, Hinduism incorporates all forms of belief and worship without necessitating the selection or elimination of any. (8/ 888) This general concept of tolerance, in other words, instructs us to live in peace with others. One should not believe in adopting a violent manner towards anyone. Just as we regard ourselves to be right, we should likewise regard others to be right. In principle, violence against any human group is unlawful. Peace in Buddhism Unlike other religions, Buddhism does not entertain belief in God as a central concept. Instead, the Buddhist system is grounded on a set